The Krampus is a horned demon strait from hell who traditionally visits children
with his Buddy the Nikolaus (quite similar to Santa Claus) on the 5th
and 6th of Dezember. Especially in the last centuries he was responsible
for punishing the bad children by giving them coals as gift or threaten
to spank them with a birch, while the Nikolo as giving Sweets, nuts and apples to the good children.

The Krampus is closely related to the Perchten in the alpine region. This tradition is pre-christian and survived Christianization in the secluded alpine valleys. The Perchtenlauf is mostley done in Dezember and January Normally they say that the demons shall drive out the winter. But this makes no sense since the tradition is at the beginning of winter. The Name Perchten is derived from Perchta, which was a powerful figure in pre-christian time - she survived in the fairytales as the Holda.(It is said that she lives in the branches of the dwarf elder - which is also the name of this blog - the witch in the dwarf elder) It is said that she leads the Wild hunt and you could recognize her by the sound of loud rattling and hooting. Traditionally the Perchts carry large bells on their Belts which causes a pandemonium.

Nowadays the Krampus is the Sensation even for the youngest children and the good old Níkolo is just the boring guy with the sweets. No wonder some children meet the scraggy fellows the first time in their buggy